/r/arrow

Subreddit
Name	/r/arrow
Type	Discussion subreddit
Fandom(s)	Arrow
URL	https://www.reddit.com/r/arrow/ Screenshot from September 2017
Related articles on Fanlore.

/r/arrow is a subreddit dedicated to the discussion of the television series Arrow. As of September 2017, the sub has over 70,000 subscribers.

The sub is notable for its views regarding the show's fourth season and the fan-favorite pairing Olicity (Oliver/Felicity). The former gained a largely negative response by the sub and was widely criticized for its romantic plotline and fan-pandering towards parts of the Tumblr and Twitter fanbase. Shortly after the broadcast of the Season 4 finale, the sub was briefly re-branded as a Daredevil sub to highlight the community hatred for season four.

Anti-Olicity content

Many users of the /r/arrow are known to be fiercely against the Olicity ship. There is little support for the ship within the sub, and most pro-Olicity comments are typically downvoted by other members of the community. The general hate for the ship largely stems from the dislike of the Felicity and Oliver romantic plotline in season four. Many users felt that the romance became the dominant focus of the show, and so lessened the overall quality of the show.

Some Redditors engaged in ship wars with Twitter and Tumblr Olicity fans (nicknamed Oliciters). One Olicity fan even admitted to receiving violent and sexual messages from Reddit users.

Olicitard

(CW: Ableism)
On the subreddit, the phrase "Olicitard" is a slur used to refer to fans of the Oliver Queen/Felicity Smoak pairing. It is a portmanteau of the pairing's ship name Olicity and the ableist slur retard. The word was popularised during the third season's broadcast, and was often used to refer to Olicity fans on Twitter and Tumblr.

In August 2017, the sub's moderators announced that comments with the word "Olicitard", "Oliciturd" and "Olishitter" would no longer be allowed on the sub. The new rule change was introduced by ShaneH7646 who disagreed with the offensive nature of the term:

A culture (or part of) should never have been allowed to form around calling people retards. I for one will not stand for it, its just unacceptable to just say people are mentally impaired because you disagree with them.

This gained a mixed response from the members of the sub:

even though I personally disagree with the term 'Olictards' for the same reasons you're blocking it, it has been a completely acceptable term on the sub for years. An open message about how that terminology is being phased out because it's insensitive would be more helpful than just arguing with every user who complains about it.

You can't just go 'round destroying three years' worth of subreddit culture. People have been using the word 'Olicitard' ever since 'Olicity' became a thing in season 3. I don't recall the original mods ever having a problem with that. [...] Back to the point. If you're gonna ban a word that is so ingrained into /r/arrow culture - don't you think there should be a community vote? Or at least a discussion with the other mods? Y'know, the ones who actually understand the community? But you're not gonna do that, are you? Because you know what the outcome will be and you don't like it.

I don't have any problems at all with the banning of the above terms. In fact, I think it's a good decision. I'm just wondering how far the mods will go in reshaping the subreddit language/culture/style of expression?

April Fools 2016

Screenshot of the Olicity layout

As an April Fools joke in 2016, the layout of the sub was remodeled to resemble the Tumblr interface, with Olicity-related images included in the site's banner. During this day, any comment not containing a variation of "olicity <3" was automatically deleted. After deletion, the user would receive a message from a bot nicknamed Felicity Smoak:

It is with a heavy heart I must inform you that there isn't enough love for Olicity in your comment. Try re-posting your comment with something more Olicity-positive in it... something along the lines of 'olicity is love', 'felicity <3', 'olicity <3', 'oliver + felicity 4ever', 'olicity ship it', 'olicity is the best romance of the 21st century' or other things!

Relationship with /r/DCcomics

Between 2011 and 2016, the /r/DCcomics subreddit and the /r/arrow sub were both affiliated with each other. This affiliation was introduced in order to promote both communities. However, during 2016, the /r/DCcomics subreddit announced the end of their affiliation. This announcement was provoked by /r/arrow embroilment in flame wars with Twitter and Tumblr users; something which the mods /r/DCcomics greatly disliked. Moderator dmull387 explains:

As some of you may already be aware, /r/arrow, the subreddit dedicated to discussion of the CW show, has become embroiled in a large flame war with other websites and fan sections. While events like the larger "Reddit Blackout of 2015" did not affect us, as the DC Comics subreddit, this is directly in our backyard, so to speak, and we will be taking a clear position on it.

Our position is as follows: the vitriolic commentary and arguments directly conflict with our mission as a friendly and open place to discuss DC Entertainment properties. As a result, we will not be affiliated with /r/arrow, and we will welcome anyone who wishes to discuss Arrow without the viciousness that has permeated that sub. We have asked that /r/arrow remove us from their affiliated links, and they have. We have done the same.

Some reactions to this announcement from /r/arrow:

This sub is one of the hardest places to be as an actual fan of the show. It's gotten to the point where the hatred for Olicity has made everyone absolutely vilify the show, and it's pretty sad. Following the live discussions of /r/FlashTV and /r/LegendsofTomorrow is my favorite thing to do while watching this show, but I've never, and will never take part in those discussions here.

Personally I think it's a bit OTT. I haven't really participated in any of the recent drama but I have been paying attention and it's seems to me the mods are being a bit drastic by essentially vilifying this sub. It's doesn't help when the mod who posted the post about this sub goes on about how they don't watch the show and don't like Green Arrow.